Wednesday 5/14: Prospect Hill had Blackburnian and Wilson’s, so just about done with expected warblers for the year. Spent a long time tracking down a bird that sounded like a Worm-eating but eventually confirmed it as Chipping. Also lots of tanagers, GC Flycatchers and pewees, the ravens nest was active, flyover GB Heron and cormorant. Stream Cruiser on the return trip.
Thursday 5/15: Raining a bit too much. Same swallows and not much else at the res. Two Wood Duck at Flint’s. A few Least at Nine Acre (although I should have scanned more as Simon had a Dunlin a bit later). Lightened up quite a bit so I headed towards Arlington Res. Traffic was lousy and it picked up again. Water is also way up with no mud. Orchard Oriole was the only thing of note in a couple minutes.
Friday 5/16: No Kentucky or much else at Mt. Auburn. Veery was a FOY, a few warblers and a Black Swallowtail otherwise.
Saturday 5/17: Did a swing to the southern border towns. Ashland State Park was fairly quiet, couldn’t find much of anything in the way of migrants and some of the expected summering birds were quiet. Did have 2 Barred Owls and 18 others but only got to 45. Waseeka in Hopkinton. Just walked to the water and back, but got 12 (out of 5 needed), so that’s done for the moment. Tried to go to Brentwood in Holliston next but could not find the parking spot. Pulled in at the Adams Street land but there were multiple mountain bikers setting up and limited parking, so I skipped it. Quick buzz of the res had nothing.
Sunday 5/18: Did my walking big day, not the best day for it. Falzone had a Swainson’s Thrush and a few warblers. Another Swainson’s at the West Meadow. BBN had a fair number of warblers but not too much else. Virginia Rail was a nice surprise at Rock Meadow. Since I was barely past 50, I didn’t bother going further. Return trip was pretty quiet, 55 total. Did have some decent bugs including FOY Familiar Bluet, Hobomok Skipper, Monarch, and Little Wood Satyr.
Monday 5/19: Tried Tanner’s Brook for a change. Wind made things hard to hear (and I was expecting to be hit by a branch at any moment). Handful of warblers including 2 Blue-winged, 2 BT Green, several redstart, a couple waxwings, and not too much else. Had time after for a quick stop at Nine Acre (2 Least, 1 plover that may or may not have been a Semi), and the res (mostly Chimney Swifts).
Tuesday 5/20: Couple redstarts at Cookson. Ton of cormorants and Herring Gulls along the river along with an Osprey, not too much else at either.